By Alfie Marlborough
Alfie was tasked to find three potential candidates for the vacant job at MK Dons, to his credit he dived in and here are his thoughts. Wonder if any of them are in with a shout ?
Steve Morison
Tipped highly by the bookies, the 39 year-old is one of the favourites for the job according to the bookies.
The Welshman had a fruitful career in his playing days for a number of clubs where he played as a forward scoring a total of 190 goals over 603 appearances which included 20 for Wales where he found the net on one occasion.
Morison earned his UEFA Pro-Licences and began his coaching careers in the academies of former clubs Northampton Town and Millwall.
Morison became the lead coach of the Under-23 team at Cardiff City in February 2020 which he stayed in until taking interim care of the first team in October 2021 following the sacking of Mick McCarthy. He took charge of three games while being caretaker and oversaw their first win in 10 against Huddersfield, a 3-3 draw over Cardiff and a loss to QPR. The Cardiff board were satisfied with his performance and decided to appoint him on a full-time basis. Morison picked up 56 points from 45 games having scored 48 and conceded 60 goals. Through his time, he won 16 times, drew 8 ,and lost 21.
The Dons could be tempted to appoint the manager as he favours a three at the back which the Dons have played with for the majority over the past few years under several different managers.
Leam Richardson
Guided Wigan to the Championship last season who had undergone lots of change at the start of the season following a takeover which is why he could be good for a Dons team who had signed plenty of players in the summer to replace the lot that left.
Richardson followed Paul Cook to Wigan as assistant manager which he stayed in for nearly three years before taking interim charge and overseeing the club’s pre-season following their relegation after falling into financial disarray and being deducted twelve points which ultimately resulted in the Latics being relegated from the Championship.
The 43 year-old favours a 4-2-3-1 formation which saw much success in the 2021/22 season when he had taken charge of the team for good. In the 61 games he oversaw that season, The Tics won an impressive 36 games while picking up 12 draws and losing 13 times meaning the Latics won the league with 92 points while reaching the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy, third round of the EFL Cup, and the Fourth Round of the FA Cup.
In the championship, he oversaw the Tics’ first twenty outings in the league winning just five, drawing five and losing ten. The Latics’ manager was sacked with Wigan just two points clear of safety. However, the sacking was seen as a shock at the time.
Dons could be tempted to try and bring the Yorkshire-born manger to Buckinghamshire due to his preference of Formation. The Dons have experimented with Four at the back on many occasions this season.
Dean Holden
Holden had a career which lasted for 16 years in which he made 369 appearances predominantly as a Right-back.
He began his coaching career at Oldham Athletic as an assistant Manager before taking the manager role in February 2015 until the end of the season. He eventually returned to his post as Assistant Manager ahead of the 2015/16 season which he stayed in until January 2016 where he was sacked alongside manager David Dunn. He later joined Walsall where he was the assistant manager for 8 months before making the move to Bristol City where he was a second to Lee Johnson for many years until being put in interim charge by the robins in July 2020 and oversaw the final five matches of the the delayed COVID season which saw City win twice and drew twice meaning he had only lost once leaving spirits high at the end of the season. Holden was deemed to have done a great job and became the head-coach of Bristol City on one year contract.
However, Holden only lasted six months in his role and was sacked with the club in 13th place and on a run of six defeats. During his tenure, the Robins won 16 times, drew 3 times and lost 17 times averaging 1.42 points per game.
He recently was relieved of his duties as assistant manager at Stoke City that he took on in April 2021. Despite his short time in management, he favours a 4-4-2 formation.
